Daily Posts from Ireland

Our group got off to a later start, 11am because the week before we had been going to sleep at 2-3am and get up at 7am but now we have been going at a more lenient paste. It was really nice! We walked from the hostel not too far down the road to St. Canice's Cathedral and round tower, one of only two medieval towers in Ireland that can be climbed. It was so amazing to climb up the stairs and to think what the priests and monks had to do to hide from vikings and other invaders. The view from the tower was unbelievable! We could see the whole town of Kilkenny. After this we viewed the inside of the cathedral. I saw tombs that have been there probably for 100 plus years and beautiful stained glass windows of scenes from the bible. Taking a nice stroll though Kilkenny town to Kilkenny Castle, named one of the best castles in Europe. The inside was remodeled in the Victorian era. My friends and I could not image how people in these times could live like this. The castle seemed to be right out of a fairy tale like beauty and the beast. We walked outside to the stunning court yard with a big fountain. Looking at the castle from this side was spectacular! Now I know I am in Europe! So much history...